True, but the faster you get to the exit, the less monsters you come across too. So I suppose we could argue the risk reward system I guess. If I end up spending like 20 bullets just for my “Reward” to be a 10 bullet clip, then I was better off taking the shortest path to the exit.

Give me a gun, even with ten measly bullets, and I will examine a whole damn room, regardless of being chased by a dozen Roaches, two chainsaw bosses, and Oroboros Wesker.

Take away any means of fighting back, and I will get out of there in ten seconds flat without taking more than 20% damage.

The crux of the matter is (the illusion of) self defense. If I can fight back, I will fight back against all odds. If I have no means to fight back, I have no desire to test how many times I can get stabbed before I croak. Adrenaline and reflexes become my only means of survival.

Amnesia? If I think I see something go lumbering by, I’m going to squat my ass in the corner and bray the whole time that burro boogies to the exit.

Unless it’s a section I’ve been through. Then the only time I slow down is when the main character, whose name I forget because I haven’t played it in a few months, starts to hyperventilate because OH my GOD a BOX FELL OVER and I think I HEARD the WIND AEUGUGEHH! *flail*

I explore a ton in horror games! Especially Dead Space, since you have the little beacon line that shows you where your objective is, it makes it really easy to go the other way and hunt for goodies! Dead Island you need to search a lot too. I even search a lot in Left 4 Dead 2, even though usually the only payoff is some slightly interesting survivor graffiti on the wall and probably a horde sent your way to speed you along. I just like to explore!